Best Brunch

1. El Torito

Multiple locations; eltorito.com

Although El Torito touts itself as the “authority of great Mexican Food,” it’s the all-you-can-eat and bottomless Mimosa and champagne-infused Sunday brunches with which our voters really connect.

So popular have the brunch offerings become, they account for 20 percent of the company’s overall business.

With seven stations serving limitless portions, bring your appetite. There are build-to-order omelette stations with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach, cheese, ham, chorizo, bacon and jalapeños. There are also stations for fajitas, tacos, salads and soups.

Also available are a wide array of classic entrees, including cheese enchiladas, machaca and eggs, huevos rancheros, tamales, chile Colorado and chicken adobo.

While many restaurants closed down buffet-style offerings in the pandemic, El Torito took it as an opportunity. Chefs and sous chefs came out to the front of the restaurant and prepared meals individually and to order for patrons, creating mini chefs tables.

“We have these amazing stations that meet or exceed what we’ve had in the past,” El Torito CEO Randy Sharpe told the Register in 2020. “You actually have a chef on the other side of the plexiglass helping you along the way.”

El Torito has locations throughout Orange County and brunch is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

ED CRISOSTOMO, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER El Torito offers a wide array of classic entrees, including cheese enchiladas, machaca and eggs, huevos rancheros, tamales and chicken adobo during their brunch service.

— Greg Mellen

2.Taps Fish House & Brewery

Brea, Irvine;, tapsfishhouse.com

The popular Taps brunch is back, after the pandemic shutdown, although it clearly never left the hearts or taste buds of Best of Orange County voters.

“We’re happy to have it back,” said Sunny Reed, director of service for Taps, which reopened its brunch service in Brea ahead of Father’s Day. As of presstime, preparations were underway to reopen in Irvine.

One thing that sets Taps apart is its chilled seafood on ice selection, featuring shrimp, scallops, freshly shucked oysters and a seafood sushi roll.

There are also cooked-toorder omelettes, a carving station and a hot buffet with all the breakfast standards plus rotating fish entrees.

Of course a place named Taps wouldn’t be complete without a massive selection of handcrafted, awardwinning ales and lagers. A couple of drafts come with the brunch or a “freeflowing” champagne.

Oh, and be sure to check out the balloon artist and photo booth.

3. Old Vine Kitchen & Bar

2937 Bristol St. Suite A-103, Costa Mesa, 714-545-1411, oldvinekitchenbar.com

In 2019, the Old Vine Cafe kicked its way into a larger space and rebranded itself the Old Vine Kitchen & Bar. Now it has made its way up to being one of the top three brunch choices among diners in the Best of Orange County survey.

Unlike the typical buffetstyle brunches favored by many eateries, Old Vine goes in a different direction. Diners are given a choice of six different two-course selections. The first courses are typically salads or mixed vegetable combinations. For the second course, things diverge with choices of sweet or savory omelettes, waffles, crepes or quiches, with choices of fruits and meats.

Beverages include high-end coffees, lattes and espresso. As the eatery’s name indicates, there is also an extensive and exceptional wine list, not to mention craft cocktails such as the Old Vine Bloody Mary, with homemade Bloody Mary mix and house-picked vegetables, and mimosas in mini-carafes.